I have finally found my mate… father
“I… I want to see Asher? Me?! Impossible!”
Roxanne did not accept the feelings that nudged her. She loved her newfound self, the new sensations that flowed through her, her new perception of everything around her. However, there was one thing she would never accept… Feelings for the man she despised.
“There’s no way” She denied it with a passion.
Rita and Melissa both exchanged knowing glances and watched as Roxanne resisted her new urge.
Slowly, she began to calm down, and before long the feelings left her. Roxanne inhaled deeply and exhaled.
“So… Where were we?” Roxanne asked, giving the two women who stared at her a bright smile, totally putting her just-concluded episode behind her.
“You know, you can’t fight it forever…” Rita said.
“…”
Roxanne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her heart felt Rita was telling the truth, but that didn’t mean she had to accept it. Until Asher proved himself to be someone she didn’t know him as already, she would never accept him.
“Is the food ready?” Roxanne changed to the subject.
Fortunately, it was.
Rita brought out the dish for the afternoon. Piping hot chicken soup with cream scones by the side and Roxanne’s favourite chicken pie. There were other items prepared on the table, mostly greens. As she took in the sweet-smelling savour of the mean, Roxanne moaned in ecstasy.
After Rita was done setting the table, Roxanne thanked her for the meal and stared at the food laid on the table with a passionate look.
“Time to dig in!” She licked her lips.
After they were done having their meal, Roxanne suddenly remembered Camilla, the strange girl from the previous day.
“By the way, Rita, where’s Camilla? I haven’t seen her around since yesterday afternoon. You said you were going to see Ash… Him, right?” Roxanne quickly corrected herself, realising that whenever she heard the name of her so-called ‘mate’, her heart skipped a beat.
“Oh yeah, about that… She’s staying over at the guest place.” Rita commented.
“There’s a guest place? Why did you bring me here then?” Roxanne exclaimed.
“Do I really need to answer that?” Rita smiled
This made Roxanne not bother, remembering the connection between Rita and her situation.
“In any case, it seems she’ll be here for quite a while. I don’t really know the details though… She had a private talk with Ash- Ahem, I mean… ‘Him’.” Rita said in a mock tone.
“Just stop it!” Roxanne said with an embarrassed laugh.
As they both burst out laughing, with Melissa just being a spectator to the two girls, she thought back on her encounter with Asher the previous night. Surely, Roxanne was right. There was no way he could arrive at that exact moment if he wasn’t watching from afar, the timing was too perfect. Asher really was stalking Roxanne… Or was he?
Melissa’s initial impression of Asher wasn’t too good. In fact, she couldn’t still say she trusted him entirely. However, the young man she had met that night was different from the one who grabbed her neck and gave a deathly glare.
He had a melancholic presence, contrary to his usually oppressive aura. His eyes didn’t appear to be stern and intimidating, rather cool with a hint of loneliness. She wondered whether she, as well as her daughter, had made the mistake of misunderstanding Asher. Despite his actions, somehow he still granted Roxanne free reign, allowing her unrestricted movement throughout the village.
Also, so far his people all loved and respected him. They lived in happiness and peace, something that would never be seen if Asher was a tyrant. This made Melissa even more confused about Asher’s true personality and intentions. She still worried for her daughter, but it had been proven time and time again that Roxanne didn’t need her to worry.
Roxanne would have to forge her own path, find her own answers, and live her own life. The only thing she could do as her mother was to offer guidance when necessary. Besides, her time here with Roxanne was coming to an end. Any moment now, she would leave the village. She wouldn’t be able to watch over her daughter anymore. However, unlike before she had a level of assurance within her heart. She remembered Asher’s words to her after he came to carry Roxanne.
“You had better keep your promise… Young Alpha… For my daughter’s sake!” Melissa thought to herself.
She watched her daughter once more as she laughed with her new friend Rita. They looked so happy which made Melissa’s face crack open a smile. She was grateful to see Roxanne look so full of life and joy.
“Ah, dear… I truly wish you were here to see this” Melissa smiled.
Her mind drifted back to when Roxanne fainted and Asher appeared.
“I-It’s you… Why are you here?” She let out with shock and suspicion.
“That doesn’t matter now. Hmmm, it looks like exhaustion. She’ll need some rest and warmth. This blanket won’t do…” He muttered as he glanced over to Roxanne.
He carried her in his arms and placed her close to his chest. Melissa raised her hands and stretched them toward Roxanne in protest, however, a single gaze from Asher made her freeze in her movement.
“Don’t even think about it,” He said.
However, his voice lacked the threatening tone he exhibited when that first met. It felt more distant, like he was distracted by something. Melissa decided to just give up and let him hold onto Roxanne as she asked up. She did so hurriedly, and the both of them descended from the hill together, heading back to the village.
They walked for some time and Melissa could feel the level of awkwardness eating at her. To say she was uncomfortable would be an understatement. Perhaps she could break the ice one way or the other. Despite how she felt about the man, fate had chosen him to be with Roxanne, she could not go against it. She didn’t even have the right to, after all, she knew more than anyone the way fate worked harder to bring two mates together the more resistance they made.
“I should probably start with a simple conversation…” She thought to herself.
She calmed her tense muscles and took a deep breath. Her lips trenched, but she wasn’t afraid. Somehow, she felt like she could talk to him now, if not at any other time. However, before she could speak, he took the initiative and brought out words first.
“Do you hate me… Miss Melissa?” Asher asked out of the blue.
“Um, well… ” Melissa shuttered, lost for words.
She didn’t know how to react to the question he asked. He didn’t seem kike the type to care about her feelings, yet he was asking such a thing? What was she even supposed to say?
“It’s fine if you don’t answer, you can just listen…” He said in his calm and deep voice.
His time sounded genuine and lonely, she could tell that he was being sincere. Realising this, she decided to give him her full, undivided attention. He deserved it, besides it wasn’t like she had much of a choice.
“…”
“… I like Roxanne, your daughter. I realise this might sound odd coming from me, but it is the truth. My behaviour may be influenced by our connection as mates, a bond that has even strengthened more thanks to her Awakening… However, I speak for myself when I say I actually like her.” He stated.
“Wow… That was unexpected…” Melissa mumbled, her voice barely audible under her breath. Of course, such a volume posed no problem for Asher’s ears.
“Unexpected? Heh, I guess you have a point there…” He chuckled.
“I don’t have any intention of explaining why I took Roxanne from the cottage I found her in, or justify any of my past actions, but… The way Roxanne views me… I want it to change. She’s being stubborn about the whole thing though, so it seems virtually impossible.” He added
“Well, that’s Roxanne all right, stubborn to the core” Melissa smiled.
“D-Does she… Does Roxanne have someone else she likes?” Asher spoke hesitantly.
Melissa’s eyes widened as she looked at Asher with an unbelieving look. He had a blank expression on his face, but that was just a front. He was actually quite nervous about the question, and Melissa could tell from his heartbeat.
“Who would have foreseen this?” Melissa thought to herself.
“Ehem…” Asher let out a slight cough to emphasise more in his question.
It seemed she would have to answer.
“None that I know of…” Melissa said with a look of uncertainty. It wasn’t as though Roxanne and she were very close, to begin with so she wasn’t really going to be of much help.
She saw a smile creep upon his usually blank or serious face. He looked satisfied with her answer, pleased with the lack of competition. However, Melissa wasn’t about to let him have his way, especially when it concerned her daughter.
“Roxanne and I haven’t really had the best of relationships for a while, that’s why she was at her grandmother’s place, to begin with. So relying on information from me is pointless, ”she quickly added.
“Tch”
He was disappointed by the revelation Melissa made. However, this only made Melissa more confident of actually getting through to him.
“You know… If you really want to know someone, it’s best to ask them yourself”
“What are you trying to say?” After suspiciously narrowing his eyes on her.
“It’s pretty simple… Just talk with her. I’m sure she’ll….”
“I already tried that. She didn’t give me a chance to get my words in. She didn’t give me a proper chance to have a decent conversation with her.” Asher cut in.
“Well, I can see why… I mean, you did abduct her and all. And there’s also your attitude…” Melissa wanted to say, but she decided to just keep quiet instead.
“It’s unfortunate, but… I think Roxanne might hate me.” Asher stated.
“No kidding” Melissa rolled her eyes.
Of course, she would, who wouldn’t?
“That’s why… I wanted to ask you to tell me more about her.” Asher said, looking directly into Melissa’s eyes.
“Wait, what?!” Melissa’s thoughts erupted.
“I clearly lack enough information to be able to fully understand her. If you could tell me more, perhaps J would be better able to relate to her. As it stands now, I still find no fault in my actions. That is why I would like to know what her problem is with me” Asher said to Melissa.
“Who the hell is this guy?!” Melissa said to herself.
She had so many things she could say to him, or even tell him off, but she had to mind her words. After all, despite everything he was still the Alpha of the pack she was staying in, and the Wolf King of the region. Besides, the fact that he opened up to her like this meant a big deal to him, she couldn’t act impulsively.
“So, Miss Melissa, tell me what you know about Roxa-”
“No!” Melissa flat-out denied his request.
Asher’s face expressed shock. He was taken aback by Melissa’s response, unable to comprehend her action.
“Did you just say… ‘No’?” He asked.
“I did!” Melissa responded, meeting him eye to eye.
The both of them stopped moving as Asher stared at her with a look of frustration, but she maintained her ground. Her body slowly trembled as she dreaded the consequences of her defying the Alpha’s words, but she had to do it. If she didn’t, then-
“He won’t know the right path to take…” She thought.
“What is your reason?” He asked.
A smile formed on her face. The perfect question had finally been delivered.
“It’s simple really. You want to know more about Roxanne… Then the solution lies within your grasp… Ask her yourself!” Melissa said, pointing at Roxanne who was still asleep within Asher’s arms.
Melissa’s words sank deep into Asher, as he remembered Dax telling him the same thing the other day.
“You can just ask her yourself, you know?”
Here Roxanne’s mother was telling him the same thing. Was that really the only way to go?
“I see…” He muttered, turning straight ahead and resuming his match.
Melissa smiled and felt satisfied with what she did, though she heaved a sigh of relief that he didn’t try anything on her. Despite her first impression of him, he seemed like a calm, reasonable young man.
After walking for quite some time, without any word exchanged between them, they arrived at the village and neared Rita’s house. Their journey together would soon come to an end.
“You’ll be leaving the pack today, I assume?” Asher’s voice broke the silence once again.
His sudden words unnerved Melissa, causing her to nearly miss her breath. She was still quite edgy around him.
“Yes, I will,” She answered plainly.
He fell silent again as they proceeded further. They finally got to Rita’s house and Asher had to hand over Roxanne to Melissa since he didn’t want to enter the house.
Melissa grabbed Roxanne and supported her with her arms while bending to make sure she was well rested on her. As she was about to open the door and enter the warm abode, Asher’s voice came again.
“This is farewell for now, Miss Melissa, however… I will tell you one final thing before we part ways…”
“The time wherein you’ll be invited back to this pack isn’t too far off. So, be at ease. You won’t need to wait for long…. That, I promise you” He said to her with a look of resolve.
She smiled and nodded. Despite the clever use of words, Melissa knew what he was really trying to say. Everything he started could be translated to-
“Roxanne will become my bride, and we’ll invite you for the Bonding Ritual soon… Very soon!”
She couldn’t wait to see if the promise would hold up or not.
“Goodnight Lord Asher, Alpha of the Rockwood Pack, Wolf King of Oregon Woods… And mate to my daughter, Roxanne. I wish you good fortune” Melissa said.
Asher let out a small smile and nodded. Before Melissa could let out another word, a gust of wind blew which made her forcefully close her eyes. When she opened them, she saw Asher no longer, he had disappeared from her line of sight, gone with the wind, into the darkness. Melissa stared fondly into the dark for some time, before finally deciding to retreat into the warm comfort of Rita’s home.
“-Lissa…”
“…Mom…”
“Miss Melissa!”
Suddenly Melissa roused from her deep thoughts and was met with the curious gazes of both Roxanne and Rita.
“Jeez, Mom… What are you thinking about?” Roxanne said.
“Miss Melissa seems to have a lot on her mind, could it be a guy as well?” Rita grinned mischievously.
Melissa burst out in laughter after Rita said those words. She was spot-on accurate, after all. Rita and Roxanne exchanged confused glances and watched Melissa laugh until she finally stopped.
“Well… Something like that.” Melissa responded, to the surprise of Roxanne and Rita.
She wondered though… Just what Asher was up to at the moment.
Asher had a nervous look as he looked at the man in front of him. He felt uncomfortable and his hands twitched a bit. However, he resolved to perform the task and so he wasn’t going to back down anyway. He was going to do it.
“Yes… Go on…” A deep voice appeared before Asher, causing him to get stirred up even more.
He took a deep breath and called himself. It was now or never. He had to tell this man… The only man he ever respected and loved, as well as hated more than anyone else.
“I have finally found my Mate… Father…”